The Great Mage Returns after 4000 Years â Chapter 239 â Epilogue (2)
Translator: Seven
Editors: Ana_Banana, Yahiko
âFrom now on, you will be the center of the Circle.â
âWhat are you talking about? Why me?â
Lukas glanced at Anastasia, who was still unconscious.
âIâm asking for Anastasia. Technically⊠She isnât Schweiser. The situation might seem fine now, but as time passes, more things will come to change.â
It was only now Lukas was able to understand Anastasiaâs true nature.
He could still call her Schweiser. But as time went on, she was gradually becoming her own individual.
After all, she wasnât actually Schweiser Strow but a War Golem who had inherited his memories and personality.
While she hadnât truly formed an individual identity yet, it was impossible to say that it would never happen.
The more she saw and experienced for herself, the more Anastasia would change.
This would cause her to think deeply about her true identity.
âWhen that time comes, your naivety will help her.â
ââŠis that supposed to be a compliment?â
âRight.â
Although he still spoke bluntly, Ivanâs attitude had changed because he saw the way Lukas looked at Anastasia and heard the seriousness in his voice.
He also agreed because heâd long noticed that her behaviour was becoming increasingly close to a girl of similar age to her appearance.
âWhat do you mean by center of the Circle?â
âThe entire continent is suffering because of the damage caused by the Demigods. There were huge scars everywhere. The founding goal of the Circle has already been fulfilled. There are no longer any Demigods to threaten humanity. Now, all that has to be done is to repair the damage dealt. Leading the world to a peaceful era. That should be the Circleâs new goal.â
ââŠthatâs not my cup of tea.â
âWith your fist the way it is, you will be unable to train for a while anyway. And Iâm sure. If itâs you, the Circle Masters will follow without a single word.â
âYouâre overestimating me.â
Ivan grumbled.
âI donât like where this is going. It feels like Iâll be forced to do that job for the rest of my life.â
âThat would be fine.â
âYou bastard⊠you should pick someone else.â
Lukas chuckled.
âThe Circle needs someone who is unbiased. In front of you, whether they are royalty or slaves, they are all the same human beings.â
ââŠyou are the same. In fact, I think youâre better than me.â
âI have to leave.â
âWhere?â
âTo a far place. It will be very hard to come back.â
Ivan narrowed his eyes at those words.
âNo.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âIt doesnât matter if you have to leave, but promise to come back.â
ââŠitâs not that easy to say.â
He couldnât explain in detail. There had to be a reason why God hid the information about âother universesâ.
Lukas understood that.
Even if an unqualified person found out about it, they would only be confused.
âFrey. No, it should be Lukas now.â
Ivanâs tone became serious.
âYou said earlier that I am amazing. But arenât you the same? To me, you are a much better man.â
He hadnât spent a very long time with Lukas. Nevertheless, Lukas had a very large impact on Ivanâs inner self.
Heâd long been accustomed to being alone. Apart from his teacher, Nora, he found it annoying to fight together with anyone.
But Lukas was different. His existence allowed Ivan to reflect on himself and think about his shortcomings.
He was able to develop because of him. Even when he fought together with other people, he was still able to move freely. He felt like an additional force was added to his outstretched fist.
He still didnât mind being alone, but he also didnât mind leaving his back to a reliable person.
Lukas had taught him the importance of teammates.
âIâll wait for you, so come back. When you were locked in the Abyss and everyone thought you were dead, you still broke their expectations and came back.â
âIt would have been impossible on my own. I only came back because my friend helped me.â
âThen I will help you too.â
âIvan, this time, itâs completely different.â
Despite Lukasâ serious tone, Ivan still shook his head.
âI donât know the difference. To me, itâs no different from 4,000 years ago. Even then, you made the impossible possible. Whoâs to say that you wonât do the same again?â
ââŠ!â
At first glance, it sounded like it was forced. However, Lukas couldnât help but widen his eyes at Ivanâs simple words.
He felt like heâd been hit in the head with a hammer.
Lukas stared at Ivan for a while, completely speechless.
âWhat?â
ââŠno. Youâre right. Haha. Right⊠I can make the impossible possible.â
Right.
Why hadnât he thought of that?
Lukas felt like the dark clouds, which had settled on his head, had suddenly been lifted. It was only then when he realised he was taking âGodâs wordsâ like they were absolute.
After knowing how omnipotent God was, heâd subconsciously believed that his words were always right.
But he didnât have to do that at all.
Ivan was right.
It had been the same 4,000 years ago. What was important was Lukasâ own will.
âIvan.â
âWhat?â
âLive to a ripe old age.â
âHmph⊠Of course I will.â
Ivan replied with a snort.
Lukas smiled at him.
His heart felt much lighter.
He felt he could say goodbye with a smile.
* * *
Iris suddenly realised that she could think.
âAh? How? I shouldâve been dead already.â
âI hope my memory was accurate.â
Then she heard a voice she really wanted to hear.
Iris turned around.
âHe said that your body was reconstructed based on my memory.â
ââŠLukas.â
âCan you scold me for saving your life later? Itâs been a long and tiring day.â
Iris almost burst into tears as she heard Lukasâ laugh.
âHow did you save me? Can I ask that?â
âI negotiated with God, and it went well. Iâm a pretty good talker.â
âGod? HahaâŠâ
When Iris burst out laughing, Lukas pouted slightly and spoke grumpily.
âIâm not joking.â
âI know. I just⊠couldnât help laughing. Did it make you feel bad?â
âNo.â
There was no need for them to talk much. Both already knew what the other was thinking.
While they were in the Celestial World, in Irisâ illusion, they had already heard each otherâs inner thoughts.
Thanks to that, they knew exactly what the other person was thinking.
Iris opened her mouth cautiously.
ââŠis it all over?â
âRight.â
âIt was long.â
ââŠit was long. For both of us.â
Lukasâ expression was serious.
âIâm leaving. It will be a long journey, but I will definitely return⊠Iris, can you wait for me?â
Iris didnât respond to Lukasâ words immediately.
Lukas looked her in the eyes and continued.
âI promise. Iâll be back sooner than last time.â
âSooner than 4,000 years? Thatâs comforting.â
Iris spoke in a playful voice.
âYouâre a really bad guy. Lukas, you are the only man on the entire Continent who dares to make a woman wait so long.â
Iris fell silent for a moment before adding.
ââŠand Iâm probably the only woman who would willingly wait for such a long time⊠twice.â
She looked up at Lukas with a firm expression.
âGo and hurry back, Lukas. I will be paying for my crimes. With this life that you saved, I will make this world a better place than it is now. I swear. Even if you hate humans, even if you lose all faith in humanity, I will make a world so beautiful that youâll have no choice but to love them again. SoâŠâ
Iris smiled brightly.
It was the most beautiful smile that Lukas had ever seen.
âGo ahead without any fear.â
âThank you.â
Lukas nodded.
That was it. They didnât have anything else to say to each other.
They knew that the shorter the farewell was, the better⊠and that they would meet again in the future.
The moment he turned around, Lukas could no longer feel Irisâ presence. His body had appeared in space, and God was standing in front of him.
[Are you finished with your farewells?]
âYeah.â
[You promised them that youâd return. Do you understand how difficult that is?]
âOf course I do. However⊠you never said that it was impossible. You said that it was ânearâ impossible. Those were your words.â
Right.
It was just that he thought it would be impossible for Lukas.
But there was a chance, no matter how small. So Lukas still had hope.
God chuckled and spoke.
[Well, I suppose thatâs your answer. Good. Iâll give you a piece of information as a gift.]
âWhat is it?â
[-There is a class above Absolute.]
Lukasâ expression changed at those words.
[Youâll be starting at the very bottom, but depending on your achievements, you might be able to increase your level. The âLordsâ at the very top are even more powerful than I am.] (TL: âLordâ or âRulerâ guys? Instead of using Konglish like with Lord and Dragon Lord, the author nominalised the word mean âto ruleâ or âto lord overâ)
He couldnât help but feel strange at those words. Beings created by God were even more powerful than God?
It felt like a contradiction.
God chuckled as though he could sense Lukasâ thoughts.
[Itâs not that strange if you think about it. Isnât it natural for a blacksmithâs sword to be sharper than his fingernails?]
ââŠâ
[However, out of the countless Absolutes in existence, there are only four Lords. They are cosmic beings who were destined to become Absolutes from birth. Even right after they were born, they had the power to treat the Demigods like bugs.]
God looked at Lukas.
[Lukas Trowman. Can you become a Lord? Will you be able to overcome all kinds of hardships that youâve never experienced before and travel the near infinite worlds without losing your mind?]
âTheyâre not hardships.â
Right. It wasnât a hardship.
Lukas looked at God and spoke in a serious voice.
âFor me, itâs a journey.â
[Hoh. What for?]
âTo not forget my humanity.â
And even when he came back, he would still be on the journey of loving humans.
Lukas had shown his intentions to God.
[Hahaha!]
God burst into laughter.
He stared at Lukas with genuinely delighted eyes.
[I see! Lukas Trowman! So you intend to become the âGodâ of all the humans that exist in the universe!]
That was Lukasâ answer.
Lukas had revealed to Godâs face that even if he became an Absolute, he would not stop favouring the humans. This was the only way he could continue to love humans without forgetting his humanity after becoming an Absolute.
[It will be interesting to have at least one being like you! Hahaha! Iâll give my blessing to this new Absolute who loves humans!]
Paht!
Godâs blessing came in the form of a bright light that seemed to shine in every direction. Then each particle of this light became the entrance to another world.
Hundreds and thousands of worlds spread out like lanterns.
There, he could see countless humans suffering. Some were slaves, livestock, or even worse.
And all of them were waiting for Lukasâ help.
He finally understood his role. He was the saviour of all the humans in each of these three thousand worlds.
When they were in despair, when they were frustrated by walls that they couldnât seem to overcome, when they wanted to give up everything. Lukas would appear beside them to give them the hope they needed.
âLetâs get going.â
A smile blossomed on Lukasâ lips.
The Great Mage took his first step on the long journey he promised to return from.
(TL: Hey guys, so this is the last chapter for what I call the first season of TGMRA4000Y. The second is still ongoing with over 550 chapters. I generally make announcements on discord, but for those who donât have discord, a rough summary of what I need to say is that I will take a minor break after this chapter(about 2-3 days) before jumping right into season 2. So see you then guys, and thanks for following me on this journey ^-^.)